What’s the Pinnacle?
Why knowing the answer might matter more than the goal itself.
This thing you’re pursuing, this project you’re working on, this goal you’ve set – what’s the end game? Or, said differently, what’s the pinnacle?
When I use “pinnacle” here – I’m referring to that unmistakable, euphoric moment when you can confidently exclaim “Yes! I’ve done it!” (even if just to yourself).
I’ve been thinking about this recently through some conversations – and, in almost every case, when asked pointedly what the pinnacle is, there is rarely a clear answer:
When it comes to careers – the pinnacle question is generally answered with a vague version of “to be successful”.
When it comes to an in-flight project – the pinnacle question is generally answered with a vague version of “to take the next step” or “to finish it”.
When it comes to life goals – the pinnacle question is danced around, largely because the goals themselves are ill-defined (“to be successful”, “to make an impact”, “to travel”, “to retire with enough saved”, etc)
All of the example answers above are noble, but they all leave such uncertainty that it becomes nearly impossible to know if the pinnacle has been reached.
So why is it that such important topics are answered in ambiguous language? I think it boils down to not taking the time to answer the pinnacle question before the goal is set. And when the pinnacle isn’t defined, progress feels endless, satisfaction gets delayed, and it becomes easy to move the goalposts without realizing it.
Here’s the challenge:
1 - Think about the goals you’ve set for yourself (if you don’t have any – this might be a good time to think about what they are).
2 - For each, ask yourself “What’s the pinnacle?” or “What does it mean to accomplish this goal?”.
3 - Then – importantly – write it down. This ensures not only that you have a clearly defined picture of success, but it puts a stake in the ground that helps you guard against moving the goalposts down the road.
It’s ok if both the goals and the pinnacles are just for you – you don’t need to proclaim them publicly. But you should at least be clear with yourself.
Once you’ve done that – you’re not just busying yourself in a haphazard pursuit of your goals. Rather, you can start climbing towards the goal with intention.
Thanks for spending time with me in my workshop,
Eric
